evaluation of t cell proliferation using cfse dilution assay: a comparison between stimulation with pha and anti-cd3/anti-cd28 coated beads

A decrease in t cell count or reduced t cell function can be indicative of t cell immunodeficiency. in the present study, t-cell function was assessed using carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (cfse) dilution test after stimulation with commonly used phytohaemagglutinin (pha) or anti-cd3/anti-cd28 coated beads in pediatric patients with recurrent infections. seven infants with recurrent infections and seven sex/age-matched healthy infants were included in this study. a blood cell count, immunophenotyping, and serum immunoglobulin level were performed. the proliferation of t cells was also assessed with cfse dilution after stimulation with pha or anti-cd3/anti-cd28 coated beads. this study showed increased iga, igg, and igm levels in patients compared to the controls. in contrast to the controls, the immunophenotyping results showed a significant decline in the number of cd4+ t cells in patients. although there was no difference in cd3+ t cell proliferation between patients and controls, the cd4+ and cd8+ t cell proliferation rates were significantly decreased in patients when stimulated with pha. as a mitogen with the potential for maximum proliferation of t cells, pha is better able to distinguish between patients with recurrent infections and controls than anti-cd3/anti-cd28, which mimics only the tcr pathway for stimulation of t cells.